With the first round of the new season's Champions Cup in the books, we explore the key revelations highlighted by the weekend's action.
French dominance has ruled the roost in recent years, with the last five champions all calling home France's top flight. However, the initial stage showcased a number of statement victories from emerging contenders.
Bordeaux Look Set to Defend Their Title
Defending champions Bordeaux Begles were utterly dominant in the competition last season, dominating Toulouse in the last four and subsequently Northampton in the final.
Positioned sixth in the domestic standings, questions have been asked about their chances of defending the feat this year. But, in round one, Bordeaux sent a message that they are fully equipped of achieving back-to-back titles with a free-flowing away victory in South Africa.
Given a challenging fixture at the Bulls' fortress against a strong Bulls side featuring internationals like Willie le Roux, Handre Pollard, and Canan Moodie, they found themselves trailing 33-22 at the break.
But, demonstrating their pedigree, they unleashed their power in the second period, fighting back to claim a 46-33 victory – shutting out the Bulls to zero after the break.
Les Bleus stars phenoms Damian Penaud and World Player of the Year nominee Louis Bielle-Biarrey both got on the scoresheet. Any team with those two on the wings has a chance against any competition.
Impressive Bath Look Capable of Going the Distance
Bath's lone victory in this competition dates back almost a generation ago. Since that time, they have arguably not been more strongly positioned to win it again.
The reigning domestic title-holders are leading the way in the league after six games and will be aiming to carry that momentum into Europe – especially after a surprise group-stage exit in the last campaign.
Johann van Graan's side looked a highly composed and polished team in their 40-14 defeat of Munster, who are third in the United Rugby Championship.
They blend creative spark – sealing the extra point in under 20 minutes at the Rec – with defensive steel, restraining their visitors at arm's length when they attempted a fightback.
With stars such as Finn Russell and Ben Spencer directing play and quality reserves across the team, they must be viewed as serious contenders for a maiden Champions Cup since 1998.
Bath's defining match in the group stage the previous year occurred in the next fixture, an narrow 22-21 loss at Benetton with a squad players.
Having secured a Premiership title under their belt and leading the home league, Van Graan might decide to put a heightened focus on the Champions Cup now.
Glasgow Give Sale a Major Blow
The tournament contains quality outfits everywhere you look, but their section seems destined to be one of the most competitive.
In the tournament's current format, a lot is made about securing home wins, which is why Glasgow's away victory at Sale on the opening night might just prove crucial.
The team from Scotland were 14-0 down after 20 minutes but fought back impressively, and two tries at the start of the second half gave them a valuable bonus-point win.
With this result, they provided their prospects of qualification a major lift and, in turn, dealt a hefty blow to the Sharks.
With the red and blacks – commanding 56-19 winners against the Sharks – and Saracens, who comfortably defeated Clermont, in the same section, we are likely to see high-stakes drama.
And regarding Glasgow's traditional foes Edinburgh? They turned in one of their best European performances in recent memory to surprise three-time winners Toulon 33-20, on a successful weekend for Scottish rugby.
Could Ioane the Final Piece of the Leinster Quest?
Should you pick one side you would fancy to be in the mix at the business end of the Champions Cup, it would be European giants Leinster.
Yet in recent campaigns it has not worked out, as they have been favourites but fallen short. Beaten finalists three years in a row between 2022-24, they looked the team to beat last season after building on a 62-0 mauling of Harlequins in the last 16 with a 52-0 win over Glasgow in the quarter-final.
It was hoped that All Black star Jordie Barrett would be the key player to take them over the line, but they were caught out and endured a surprise defeat to Northampton Saints in the last four.
This season they are trying the All Black experiment again, this time with Rieko Ioane, who provided a scoring pass on his bow in Saturday's 45-28 win over Harlequins.
Is Ioane the man to return the cup to Ireland for the first occasion since 2018?
Stormers Look Equipped to Compete
From the moment the SA franchises entered the Champions Cup in 2022-23, the furthest any of their teams have got is the quarter-finals, and in the last campaign none of them succeeded in getting out of the pool phase, with several squads not at full strength used.
Is this the year that is different? The Stormers are top of the URC and kicked off their European campaign with a 26-17 triumph in France at Bayonne on Friday.
The reactions after the game were encouraging too, with the squad and staff talking about their aspirations, and the players such as Springboks Cobus Reinach, Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu, and Damian Willemse absent for the first match.
The Stormers appear the most likely contender for a South African side to go deep into the competition, but don't count out the Sharks and Bulls, who both lost in the opening round but did meet the French powerhouses respectively.
The English and French Sides Serve Up a Classic Encounter
There were several candidates for game of the weekend, and this one was right up there.
Pau have been enjoying a outstanding season, led by stars Julian Montoya and Facundo Isa and veteran playmaker Dan Robson.
They are right now runner-up in the Top 14 and the crowd was raucous at the Stade du Hameau|their home ground|Pau's
